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A loading apparatus for card type recording mediums comprises a first
loading section for receiving a first IC card and a second loading
section for receiving a second IC card, the first loading section and the
second loading section being arranged in parallel with each other at the
side of the top surface of the apparatus, along with a third loading
section for receiving a third IC card arranged at the side of the bottom
surface of the apparatus. The apparatus main body is connected to a host
apparatus such as a personal computer by way of a cable. The first and
second loading sections are provided with respective bulged sections
showing plan views similar to those of the IC cards to be received
therein so that the user can identify the loading sections simply by
touching them.

1. A loading apparatus for card type recording mediums adapted to receive
flat card type recording mediums of at least two different shapes, the
apparatus comprising: an apparatus main body, a first loading section
continuously extending from a first loading/unloading aperture arranged
on the apparatus main body so as to receive a first card type recording
medium: a second loading section continuously extending from a second
loading/unloading aperture arranged on the apparatus main body so as to
receive a second card type recording medium; an interface arranged in the
apparatus main body and adapted to be connected to external equipment; a
first bulged section being arranged on the first loading section of the
apparatus main body; and a second bulged section being arranged on the
second loading section, the second bulged section having a size different
from that of the first bulged section.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first bulged section is
formed to show a plan view similar to that of the first card type
recording medium and the second bulged section is formed to show a plan
view similar to that of the second card type recording medium.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first and second
loading sections are arranged in parallel with each other in the
apparatus main body.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the first loading section
and the second loading section are arranged at the side of one of the
oppositely disposed main surfaces of the apparatus main body and a third
loading section is arranged at the other side of the apparatus main body
and continuously extending from a third loading/unloading aperture formed
at one of the lateral sides of the apparatus main body so as to receive a
third card type recording medium.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first loading/unloading
aperture and the second loading/unloading aperture are arranged at a
lateral side of the apparatus main body and aligned with each other.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus main body is
provided at a position between the first loading/unloading aperture and
the second loading/unloading aperture with a notched section formed by
cutting out the lateral side.

7. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the third loading/unloading
aperture is arranged along a line parallel to a lateral side of the
apparatus main body and recessed from the lateral side.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first loading section
and the second loading section are arranged in series in the apparatus
main body.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first loading section
is arranged at the side of one of the oppositely disposed main surfaces
of the apparatus main body and the second loading section is arranged at
the side of the other main surface of the apparatus main body.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] This invention relates to a loading apparatus for card type
recording mediums adapted to receive a plurality of different flat card
type recording mediums.

[0003] This application claims priority of Japanese Patent Application No.
2004-033994, filed on Feb. 10, 2004, the entirety of which is
incorporated by reference herein.

[0004] 2. Description of Related Art

[0005] Card type recording mediums such as IC cards conforming to various
different standards are being popularly used. Card type recording mediums
conforming to various different standards can record various data
including image data, moving image data, music data and document data.
While such recording mediums may be used for same or similar purposes,
many of them show different profiles and are designed to be used with
different interfaces so that normally it is not possible to use a same
loading apparatus for card type recording mediums of different shapes.
Thus, users have to possess different loading apparatus that can be used
with the different card type recording mediums of different shapes they
have. It may be cumbersome to possess a number of different loading
apparatus.

[0006] To avoid this problem, loading apparatus provided with loading
sections, or loading slots, for receiving card type recording mediums of
different shapes have been proposed (see, inter alia, Patent Document:
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 11-110880). Such a
loading apparatus is convenient because the user can use card type
recording mediums of different shapes if he or she possesses it. However,
when a loading apparatus is equipped with loading slots for receiving
card type recording mediums of different shapes, the user may load a card
type recording medium into a wrong slot. If the user loads a card type
recording medium deep into a wrong slot, it may not be possible to take
it out. Then, a machine trouble may take place.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] In view of the above identified problem, it is therefore the object
of the present invention to provide a loading apparatus for card type
recording mediums having loading sections for receiving card type
recording mediums of different shapes that is adapted to prevent a card
type recording medium from being put into a wrong loading section.

[0008] According to the invention, the above object is achieved by
providing a loading apparatus for card type recording mediums adapted to
receive flat card type recording mediums of at least two different
shapes, the apparatus comprising: an apparatus main body; a first loading
section continuously extending from a first loading/unloading aperture
arranged on the apparatus main body so as to receive a first card type
recording medium: a second loading section continuously extending from a
second loading/unloading aperture arranged on the apparatus main body so
as to receive a second card type recording medium; and an interface
arranged in the apparatus main body and adapted to be connected to
external equipment. A first bulged section is arranged on the first
loading section and a second bulged section is arranged on the second
loading section, the second bulged section having a size different from
that of the first bulged section.

[0009] Thus, according to the invention, a first bulged section is
arranged on the first loading section and a second bulged section is
arranged on the second loading section of the apparatus main body so that
the user can discriminate the first loading section from the second
loading section by the difference of position and touch between the two
loading sections. Then, it is possible to prevent an IC card from being
inserted into a wrong loading section.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a loading apparatus
according to the invention, illustrating how it is operated;

[0011] FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of the loading apparatus of FIG. 1;

[0012] FIG. 3 is a schematic front view of the loading apparatus of FIG.
1;

[0013] FIG. 4 is a schematic rear view of the loading apparatus of FIG. 1;

[0014] FIG. 5 is a schematic bottom view of the loading apparatus of FIG.
1;

[0015] FIG. 6 is a schematic lateral view of the loading apparatus of FIG.
1;

[0016] FIG. 7 is a schematic bottom view of a loading apparatus according
to the invention and provided with a bulged section on the loading
section on the bottom side;

[0017] FIG. 8 is a schematic lateral view of the loading apparatus of FIG.
7;

[0018] FIG. 9 is a schematic bottom view of a loading apparatus according
to the invention and provided with three loading sections that are
arranged in parallel on one of the major surfaces thereof;

[0019] FIG. 10 is a schematic perspective view of a loading apparatus
according to the invention and provided with two loading sections that
are arranged in series on one of the major surfaces thereof; and

[0020] FIG. 11 is a schematic lateral view of a loading apparatus
according to the invention and provided with two loading sections, one on
the top surface and one on the bottom surface thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0021] Now, a loading apparatus for IC cards according to the invention
will be described by referring to the accompanying drawings.

[0022] As shown in FIG. 1, the loading apparatus 1 is an adaptor apparatus
having three loading sections for receiving three card type recording
mediums, or IC cards, 100, 200, 300 of different shapes.

[0023] Now, the three IC cards of different shapes will be described by
referring to FIG. 1. The first IC card 100 comprises a substantially
rectangular plate-shaped card main body 101 prepared by molding synthetic
resin, which card main body 101 contains therein a semiconductor memory
element such as a flash memory having a large memory capacity of 4 MB, 16
MB, 32 MB, 64 MB, 128 MB, 256 MB, . . . , 1 GB or 2 GB, a control circuit
element having a control circuit section for controlling the operation of
writing data to and reading data from the semiconductor memory element
and a plurality of semiconductor integrated circuit elements including a
copyright protection circuit element, the elements being mounted on a
printed circuit board.

[0024] The card main body 101 containing a plurality of semiconductor
elements and a printed circuit board on which the semiconductor elements
are mounted is made to have a mechanical strength that prevents the card
main body 101 from being bent by ordinary external force applied thereto
in operation in order to protect the semiconductor memory element and the
other elements as well as the printed circuit board on which the
semiconductor elements are mounted. More specifically, the card main body
101 is formed by a molded body of synthetic resin.

[0025] A terminal section 102 is formed on the front surface 1011a of the
card main body 101 of the IC card 100, which is located on one of the
short sides of the card main body 101, so as to extend from the front
surface 101a to the bottom surface 11b. A plurality of electrodes 102b
are arranged in the terminal section 102 and separated from each other by
partition walls 102a. The operation of reading data from or writing data
to the memory element arranged in the card main body 101 is conducted by
way of the electrodes 102b arranged in the terminal section 102. Engaging
recesses are defined by the partition walls 102a of the terminal section
102 for their boundaries and the electrodes 102b are arranged on the
bottoms surfaces of the respective engaging recesses so as to be
protected against being touched directly by fingers. For example, a total
often electrodes 102b may be arranged in the respective engaging
recesses.

[0026] Thus, the first IC card 100 is provided with ten electrodes 102b in
the terminal section 102. Data are exchanged between the loading
apparatus 1, in which the first IC card 100 is loaded, and a host
apparatus typically by way of a serial interface, using the electrodes
102b arranged in the terminal section 102. More specifically, the
electrodes 102b includes at least one that operates as input terminal of
a serial protocol bus state signal BS, one that operates as input
terminal of a serial protocol data signal SDIO, one that operates as
input terminal of a serial clock SCLK and one that operates as supply
voltage VCC terminal. Of course, data may alternatively be exchanged
between the loading apparatus 1 and a host apparatus by way of a parallel
interface.

[0027] A substantially round chamfered section 103 is formed at one of the
corners of the front surface 101a where the terminal section 102 of the
card main body 101 is arranged. A wrong insertion preventing groove 104
is formed on the lateral surface 101c of the card main body 101 where the
chamfered section 103 is formed by partly cutting out the bottom surface
10b of the card main body 101 so as to be directly linked to the
chamfered section 103. The chamfered section 103 and the wrong insertion
preventing groove 104 defines the direction in which the first IC card
100 is inserted into the loading apparatus 1 and prevents a wrong card
from being loaded in the latter.

[0028] The lateral surface 10c of the card main body 101 is also provided
with a fall preventing recess 105 that allows the IC card 100 inserted
into the loading apparatus 1 to be engaged with a resilient engaging
piece provided on the loading apparatus 1 side and prevents it from
falling out of the loading apparatus 1. An engaging recess 106 to be
engaged with the ejection mechanism arranged at the loading section side
of the loading apparatus 1 or the host apparatus to eject the first IC
card 100 out of the loading section is formed substantially at the middle
of the other lateral surface 10d of the card main body 101. The engaging
recess 106 is formed by cutting out part of the lateral surface 101d that
runs in parallel with the direction of insertion of the first ID card 100
into the loading apparatus 1 or the host apparatus so as to extend to the
bottom surface 101b. It becomes engaged with the ejection mechanism
arranged at the loading section side of the host apparatus only when the
first IC card 100 is correctly inserted into the loading/unloading
aperture of the loading apparatus 1 or the host apparatus.

[0029] The first IC card 100 having the above described configuration is
put into the loading apparatus 1 or the host apparatus by way of the
corresponding loading/unloading aperture thereof, using the front surface
101a where the terminal section 102 is arranged as leading side.

[0030] Now, the second IC card 200 will be described also by referring to
FIG. 1. The second IC card 200 is a small IC card shorter than the first
IC card. It has terminals the number of which is equal to that of the
first IC card and which are realized according to the electric
specification substantially same as that of the first IC card. The second
IC card 200 comprises a substantially rectangular plate-shaped card main
body 201 prepared by molding synthetic resin, which card main body 201
contains therein a semiconductor memory element such as a flash memory
having a large memory capacity of 4 MB, 16 MB, 32 MB, 64 MB, 128 MB, 256
MB, . . . , 1 GB or 2 GB, a control circuit element having a control
circuit section for controlling the operation of writing data to and
reading data from the semiconductor memory element and a plurality of
semiconductor integrated circuit elements including a copyright
protection circuit element, the elements being mounted on a printed
circuit board.

[0031] The card main body 201 containing a plurality of semiconductor
elements and a printed circuit board on which the semiconductor elements
are mounted is made to have a mechanical strength that prevents the card
main body 201 from being bent by ordinary external force applied thereto
in operation in order to protect the semiconductor memory element and the
other elements as well as the printed circuit board on which the
semiconductor elements are mounted. More specifically, the card main body
201 is formed by a molded body of synthetic resin.

[0032] A terminal section 202 is formed on the front surface 201a of the
card main body 201, which is located on one of the short sides of the
card main body 201 and operates as leading side when the second IC card
200 is inserted into the loading apparatus 1 or the host apparatus, so as
to extend from the front surface 201a to the bottom surface 201b. A
plurality of engaging recesses are arranged in the terminal section 202
and their boundaries are defined by partition walls 202a, whose number
corresponds to that of the electrodes 202b of the second IC card 200. The
engaging recesses are open at the side of the front surface 201a and also
at that of the bottom surface 201b of the card main body 201 so that they
may be engaged with a plurality of terminals arranged on the loading
apparatus 1 or the loading section side of the host apparatus. The
plurality of electrodes 202b are arranged on the bottom surfaces of the
respective engaging recesses and separated from each other by the
partition walls 202a. Since the plurality of electrodes 202b are arranged
on the bottom surfaces of the respective engaging recesses that are
separated from each other and have sizes smaller than that of a finger
tip, they are protected from being touched directly by a finger tip or
some foreign object of such a size at the time of handling the IC card
and hence reliably protected against being contaminated and/or damaged.

[0033] Thus, the second IC card 200 is provided with ten electrodes 202b
in the terminal section 202. Data are exchanged between the loading
apparatus 1, in which the second IC card 200 is loaded, and a host
apparatus typically by way of a serial interface, using the electrodes
202b arranged in the terminal section 202. More specifically, the
electrodes 202b include at least one that operates as input terminal of a
serial protocol bus state signal BS, one that operates as input terminal
of a serial protocol data signal SDIO, one that operates as input
terminal of a serial clock SCLK and one that operates as supply voltage
VCC terminal. Of course, data may alternatively be exchanged between the
loading apparatus 1 and a host apparatus by way of a parallel interface.

[0034] A chamfered section 203 is formed at one of the corners of the
front surface 201a where the terminal section 202 of the card main body
201 is arranged in order to allow the user to easily see the right
leading edge when inserting the second IC card 200 into the loading
apparatus 1 or the host apparatus. A wrong insertion preventing groove
204 is formed on the front surface 201a and the lateral surface 201c of
the card main body 201 where the chamfered section 203 is formed by
partly cutting out the bottom surface 201b of the card main body 201 so
as to be stepped back from the bottom surface 201b of the card main body
201. The wrong insertion preventing groove 204 is provided with a
protrusion 204a that is extended from the lateral surface 201c where the
chamfered section 203 is formed and whose top surface is substantially
flush with the bottom surface 201b. As the protrusion 204a arranged in
the wrong insertion preventing groove 204, a wrong insertion preventing
recess 204b is defined in the inside thereof to prevent the IC card 200
from being put into a wrong loading/unloading aperture of the loading
apparatus 1 or the host apparatus. When the second IC card 200 is
correctly put into the right loading/unloading aperture of the loading
apparatus 1 or the host apparatus, the wrong insertion preventing recess
204b becomes engaged with the wring insertion preventing projection
arranged in the loading apparatus 1 or the host apparatus to allow the
second IC card 200 to be loaded in it. The wrong insertion preventing
recess 204b differs from the wrong insertion preventing groove 104 of the
first IC card 100 in terms of profile so that the second IC card 200 is
prevented from being mistakenly inserted into the loading section for the
first IC card 100 by the difference of profile.

[0035] The bottom surface 201b of the card main body 201 where the
chamfered section 203 is formed is provided at a position near the wrong
insertion preventing groove 204 with a fall preventing recess 205 for
preventing the second IC card 200 from falling from the loading section
for the second IC card 200 when the second IC card 200 is loaded into the
loading apparatus 1 or the host apparatus. The fall preventing recess 205
is formed by cutting out the lateral surface 201c running in parallel
with the direction in which the second IC card 200 is inserted into the
loading apparatus 1 or the host apparatus and the bottom surface 201b of
the second IC card 200. The fall preventing recess becomes engaged with
the fall preventing piece arranged on the loading apparatus 1 or the host
apparatus only when the second IC card 200 is correctly inserted into the
loading/unloading aperture of the loading apparatus 1 or the host
apparatus.

[0036] An engaging recess 206 to be engaged with the ejection mechanism
arranged at the loading section side of the loading apparatus 1 or the
host apparatus to eject the second IC card 200 out of the loading section
is formed on the bottom surface 201b of the card main body 201 where the
chamfered section 203 is formed. The engaging recess 206 is formed by
cutting out part of the lateral surface 201d that runs in parallel with
the direction of insertion of the second IC card 200 into the loading
apparatus 1 or the host apparatus so as to extend to the bottom surface
201b. It becomes engaged with the ejection mechanism arranged at the
loading section side of the host apparatus only when the second IC card
200 is correctly inserted into the loading/unloading aperture of the
loading apparatus 1 or the host apparatus.

[0037] The second IC card 200 having the above described configuration is
put into the loading apparatus 1 or the host apparatus by way of the
corresponding loading/unloading aperture thereof, using the front surface
201a where the terminal section 202 is arranged as leading side.

[0038] Now, the third IC card 300 will be described below. This third IC
card 300 is an IC card whose electric and physical specifications differ
from those of the first IC card 100 and those of the second IC card 200
and has a substantially rectangular profile. The front surface 300a of
the third IC card 300 that runs along one of the long sides of the
rectangle and operates as the leading side of third IC card 300 is
provided with a plurality of terminal sections 300b. The third IC card
300 is provided at the lateral surfaces thereof that run in parallel with
the direction of insertion of the third IC card 300 with respective
insertion guide grooves 301. While the first and second IC cards 100, 200
are provided at the sides thereof that operate as leading sides when the
cards are inserted into the loading apparatus 1 or the host apparatus
respectively with chamfered sections 103,203, the third IC card 300 is
not provided with any chamfered section for identifying the leading side
thereof when the IC card 300 is inserted into the loading apparatus 1 or
the host apparatus. The third IC card 300 having the above described
configuration is loaded into the loading apparatus 1 or the host
apparatus through the loading/unloading aperture of the loading apparatus
1 or the host apparatus, using the front surface 300a thereof where the
terminal sections 300b are arranged as leading side.

[0039] Thus, the second IC card 200 has an electric specification that is
substantially identical with that of the first IC card 100 but shows a
plan view different from that of the first IC card 100 because its long
sides are much shorter than those of the first IC card 100. The third IC
card 300 has long sides and short sides whose lengths differ from those
of the first IC card 100 and those of the second IC card 200. The loading
apparatus 1 of the present invention receives these three IC cards 100,
200, 300 of different shapes.

[0040] Referring to FIGS. 1 through 6, the loading apparatus 1 for
receiving the first through third IC cards 100, 200, 300 has an apparatus
main body 4 formed by combining an upper case 2 and a lower case 3. First
loading section 5 and second loading section 6 for receiving respectively
the first IC card 100 and the second IC card 200 are arranged at the side
of the top surface 2a of the apparatus main body 4, while a third loading
section 7 for receiving the third IC card 300 is arranged at the side of
the bottom surface 3b in the apparatus main body 4. The apparatus main
body 4 contains therein a printed circuit board where control circuits
and other electric circuits are incorporated and also connectors that
correspond respectively to the first through third IC cards 100, 200, 300
and are arranged respectively in the first through third loading sections
5, 6, 7 that are mounted on the printed circuit board. The first through
third loading sections 5, 6, 7 are provided with respective ejection
mechanisms, fall preventing mechanisms and wrong insertion preventing
mechanisms that correspond to the respective IC cards to be loaded. The
first through third loading sections 5, 6, 7 are electrically
respectively connected to the terminal sections 102, 202, 300b of the
first through third IC cards 100, 200, 300. The upper and lower cases 2,
3 are formed by injection molding of synthetic resin. Particularly, the
upper case 2 is made of a light transmitting synthetic resin material so
as to transmit light from identifier lamps, which may typically be LEDs
(light emitting diodes) mounted on the printed circuit board contained
therein.

[0041] The first through third loading sections 5, 6, 7 are respectively
so sized as to substantially entirely contain and hold the first through
third IC cards 100, 200, 300 therein. A first bulged section 8 showing a
plan view similar to that of the first IC card 100 to be loaded in the
first loading section 5 is formed on the first loading section 5, while a
second bulged section 9 showing a plan view similar to that of the second
IC card 200 to be loaded in the second loading section 6 is formed on the
second loading section 6. The first bulged section 8 and the second
bulged section 9 show plan views respectively similar to that of the
first IC card 100 and that of the second IC card 200 so that their
profiles differ from each other and hence it is possible for the user to
discriminate and identify the position of the first loading section 5 and
that of the second loading section 6 simply by touching them without
viewing them for confirmation.

[0042] The profiles of the first and second bulged sections 8, 9 are not
limited to the illustrated ones. For example, the first IC card 100 is
larger than the second IC card 200. Therefore, as for the first and
second bulged sections 8, 9, the first bulged section formed on the first
loading section 5 for receiving the first IC card 100 may be made larger
than the second bulged section 9 formed on the second loading section 6
for receiving the second IC card 200 instead of making the first and
second bulged sections 8, 9 correspond to the respective contours of the
plan views of the first and second IC cards 100, 200.

[0043] The upper case 2 is provided at the front surface 2b thereof with a
first loading/unloading aperture 11 for receiving the first IC card 100,
which aperture is directly connected to the first loading section 5, also
with a second loading/unloading aperture 12 for receiving the second IC
card 200, which aperture is directly connected to the second loading
section 6. The first loading section 5 is provided at corresponding
positions located respectively above and below the first
loading/unloading aperture 11 with a first notched section 13 for
exposing a to-be-pinched part of the first IC card 100 loaded in the
first loading section 5 so as to allow it to be pinched typically between
the thumb and the forefinger of a hand of the user when the first IC card
100 is pulled out of the loading apparatus 1. Similarly, the second
loading section 6 is provided at corresponding positions located
respectively above and below the second loading/unloading aperture 12
with a second notched section 14 for exposing a to-be-pinched part of the
second IC card 200 loaded in the second loading section 6 so as to allow
it to be pinched typically between the thumb and the forefinger of a hand
of the user when the second IC card 200 is pulled out of the loading
apparatus 1. A third notched section 15 is formed between the first
loading/unloading aperture 11 and the second loading/unloading aperture
12 with an aperture formed on the front surface thereof in such a way
that the aperture is recessed from the first and second loading/unloading
apertures 11, 12. The first loading/unloading aperture 11 and the second
loading/unloading aperture 12 are aligned with the third notched section
15 interposed between them. Thus, the third notched section 15 separates
the first loading/unloading aperture 11 and the second loading/unloading
aperture 12 from each other so that the user can easily discriminate them
and a rear surface side to-be-pinched part of the third IC card 300
loaded in the third loading section 7 is exposed so as to be pinched
typically between the thumb and the forefingers of a hand of the user
when the third IC card 300 is pulled out of the loading apparatus 1.

[0044] The first bulged section 8 is provided with a first display section
8a for displaying the type (shape) of the first IC card 100 to be loaded
and the second bulged section 9 is provided with a second display section
9a for displaying the type (shape) of the second IC card 200 to be
loaded. A third display section 7a is arranged between the first bulged
section 8 and the second bulged section 9 for the purpose of displaying
the type (shape) of the third IC card 300 to be loaded in the third
loading section 7. The first display section 8a and the second display
section 9a are arranged on an imaginary line L1 running in parallel with
the long sides of the apparatus main body 4 and dividing the short sides
of the apparatus main body 4 into equal lengths, while the third display
section 7a is arranged closer to the front surface of the apparatus main
body 4 from the imaginary line L1.

[0045] First through third access indicator sections 10a, 10b, 10c are
arranged on the imaginary line L1 between the first bulged section 8 and
the second bulged section 9 so as to be turned on when the first through
third IC cards 100, 200, 300 loaded in the first through third loading
sections 5, 6, 7 are accessed respectively. The first access indicator
section 10a is turned on when the first IC card 100 loaded in the first
loading section 5 is being accessed and the second access indicator
section 10b is turned on when the second IC card 200 loaded in the second
loading section 6 is being accessed, while the third access indicator
section 10c arranged at the center is turned on when the third IC card
300 loaded in the third loading section 7 is being accessed. The third
access indicator section 10c is arranged substantially at the middle of
an imaginary line L2 running in parallel with the short sides of the
apparatus main body 4 and dividing the long sides of the apparatus main
body 4 into equal lengths along with the third display section 7a.

[0046] The first through third access indicator sections 10a, 10b, 10c are
arranged in the order of arrangement of the first through third loading
sections 5, 6, 7 so that each of the first through third access indicator
sections 10a, 10b, 10c makes light from the corresponding one of the LEDs
mounted on the printed circuit board 4 visible to the user through the
light transmitting upper case 2 when the LED is turned on to emit light.
In other words, the undulations due to the access indicator sections are
minimized to make the surface of the apparatus main body 4 very smooth
when touched by hand.

[0047] As pointed out above, since the first through third display
sections 8a, 9a, 7a are arranged in the order of arrangement of the first
through third loading sections 5, 6, 7, it is easy for the user to
visually identify the positions of the first through third loading
sections 5, 6, 7. Similarly, the first through third access indicator
sections 10a, 10b, 10c are also arranged in the order of arrangement of
the first through third loading sections 5, 6, 7, it is easy for the user
to visually identify any of the first through third IC cards 100, 200,
300 loaded respectively in the first through third loading sections 5, 6,
7 that may be being accessed by the host apparatus.

[0048] Still additionally, since the first and second display sections 8a,
9a and the first through third access indicator sections 10a, 10b, 10c
are aesthetically appealing because they are arranged on the single
imaginary line L1. Similarly, since the third access indicator section
10c and the third display section 7a are also aesthetically appealing
because they are arranged on the single imaginary line L2.

[0049] The lower case 3 that is combined with the above described upper
case 2 is formed in such a way that its front surface 3a is located
inside relative to and in parallel with the front surface 2b of the upper
case 2. The front surface 3a is provided substantially at the center
thereof with a third loading/unloading aperture 16 that is directly
connected to the third loading section 7 for receiving the third IC card
300. The third loading/unloading aperture 16 is located at the bottom of
the third notched section 15. The lower case 3 is provided with a fourth
notched section 17 that is recessed from the foremost line of the lower
case. The front edge of the fourth notched section 17 is aligned with the
front edge of the third notched section 15 of the upper case 2 but the
fourth notched section 17 has a width greater than the third notched
section 15. Thus, the third and fourth notched sections 15, 17 arranged
respectively above and below the third loading/unloading aperture 16 are
adapted to expose a to-be-pinched part of the third IC card 300 loaded in
the third loading section 7 so as allow it to be pinched typically
between the thumb and the forefinger of a hand of the user when the third
IC card 300 is pulled out of the loading apparatus 1. The lower case 3 is
not provided on the bottom surface 3b thereof with a bulged section that
corresponds to the third loading section 7 in order to make the bottom
surface of the apparatus main body 4 very flat so that the apparatus main
body 4 may be held stable when it is placed on a desk or the like with
its bottom surface thereof held in contact with the top surface of the
desk. The third loading section 7 is not provided with a bulged section
additionally because the third loading section 7 is arranged close to the
bottom surface 3b of the apparatus main body 4 at a level different from
the level where the first and second loading sections 5, 6 are arranged
and that is located close to the top surface 2a and hence the third
loading section 7 can be easily identified without such a bulged section.

[0050] The lower case 3 is provided at the rear surface 3c thereof with a
jack 19 for receiving a plug 18a arranged to cable 18 for connecting the
loading apparatus with a computer. The data transmitted from the host
apparatus are written to any of the first through third IC cards 100,
200, 300 loaded respectively in the first through third loading sections
5, 6, 7 of the loading apparatus 1 according to the command transmitted
from the host apparatus. Similarly, any of the data stored in the first
through third IC cards 100, 200, 300 loaded respectively in the first
through third loading sections 5, 6, 7 of the loading apparatus 1 are
read to the host apparatus according to the command transmitted from the
host apparatus. The interface between the loading apparatus 1 and the
host apparatus is an interface to which power can be supplied to such an
extent, and which makes it possible write data to and read data from any
of first through third the IC cards 100, 200, 300. A USB (universal
serial bus) is adopted in the above described embodiment, although the
interface is not limited to a USB and may alternatively be an interface
conforming to the IEEE (the Institute of Electrical and Electronic
Engineers) 1394 Standard. It may be so arranged that power is supplied to
the loading apparatus 1 not from the host apparatus but from a battery
contained in the loading apparatus 1 or a commercial power source. The
apparatus main body 4 may be connected to the host apparatus not by wires
but wirelessly.

[0051] The above-described loading apparatus 1 is electrically connected
to the host apparatus by way of a cable 18 connected to the jack 19 of
the apparatus main body 4. When loading the first IC card 100 into the
first loading section 5 by way of the first loading/unloading aperture 11
by using the terminal section 102 of the first IC card 100 as leading
side, the user can recognize the first loading section 5 by seeing and/or
touching the first bulged section 8 and the first display section 8a to
recognizing them. Thus, it is possible to prevent the first IC card 100
from being mistakenly inserted into the second loading section 6 or the
third loading section 7.

[0052] Similarly, when loading the second IC card 200 into the second
loading section 6 by way of the second loading/unloading aperture 12 by
using the terminal section 202 of the second IC card 200 as leading side.
At this time, the user can recognize the second loading section 6 by
seeing and/or touching the second bulged section 9 and the second display
section 9a to recognizing them. Thus, it is possible to prevent the
second IC card 200 from being mistakenly inserted into the first loading
section 5 or the third loading section 7.

[0053] Furthermore, when loading the third IC card 300 into the third
loading section 7 by way of the third loading/unloading aperture 16 by
using the terminal section 300b of the third IC card 300 as leading side.
At this time, the user can recognize the third loading section 7 by
seeing and/or touching the first bulged section 8 and the third display
section 7a to recognizing them. Thus, it is possible to prevent the third
IC card 300 from being mistakenly inserted into the first loading section
5 or the second loading section 6.

[0054] When the host apparatus is accessing any of the first through third
loading sections 5, 6, 7 containing respectively the first through third
IC cards 100, 200, 300, the corresponding one of the first through third
access indicator sections 10a, 10b, 10c arranged respectively for the
first through third loading sections 5, 6, 7 is turned on to prevent the
user from mistakenly pulling out the card from the corresponding loading
section.

[0055] To use the loading apparatus, it is not necessary that all of the
first through third IC cards 100, 200, 300 are loaded respectively into
the first through third loading sections 5, 6, 7. In other words, it is
sufficient that only one of the IC cards 100, 200, 300 is loaded in the
corresponding loading section to operate the loading apparatus for use.

[0056] The first IC card 100 loaded in the first loading section 5 can be
pulled out of the first loading section 5 by pinching the to-be-pinched
part of the first IC card 100 located at the rear side thereof and
exposed from the first notched section 13. Similarly, the second IC card
200 loaded in the second loading section 6 can be pulled out of the
second loading section 6 by pinching the to-be-pinched part of the second
IC card 200 located at the rear side thereof and exposed from the second
notched section 14. Likewise, the third IC card 300 loaded in the third
loading section 7 can be pulled out of the third loading section 7 by
pinching the to-be-pinched part of the third IC card 300 located at the
rear side thereof and exposed from the third and fourth notched sections
15, 17.

[0057] Now, another embodiment of loading apparatus according to the
invention will be described by referring to FIGS. 7 and 8. While the
third loading section 7 of the above described loading apparatus 1 is not
provided with a bulged section, the third loading section 7 of the
loading apparatus 30 illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8 is provided with a
third bulged section 31 whose plan view resembles to that of the third IC
card 300 to be loaded into the third loading section 7. The third bulged
section 31 operates as contact surface for the loading apparatus 30 when
the loading apparatus 30 is placed on a desk or the like. Since the
loading apparatus 30 is provided with a first bulged section 8 arranged
on the first loading section 5, a second bulged section 9 arranged on the
second loading section 6 and additionally a third bulged section 31
arranged under the third loading section 7, it is possible for the user
to identify not only the positions of the first and second loading
sections 5, 6 but also the top and bottom surfaces of the apparatus main
body 4 and the position of the third loading section 7 by touching them.
The loading apparatus 30 is provided on the bottom surface thereof with a
fourth bulged section 32 at the position of the jack 19 that is flush
with the third bulged section 31 in addition to the third bulged section
31 so that both the third bulged section 31 and the fourth bulged section
32 operate for contact surfaces of the loading apparatus 30 when the
loading apparatus 30 is placed on a desk or the like.

[0058] FIG. 9 shows still another embodiment of loading apparatus
according to the present invention. In the loading apparatus 40 of FIG.
9, the first loading/unloading apertures 41d of the first loading section
41 for receiving the first IC card 100, the second loading/unloading
aperture 42d of the second loading section 42 for receiving the second IC
card 200 and the third loading/unloading aperture 43d of the third
loading section 43 for receiving the third IC card 300 are arranged in
parallel with each other near the upper surface and along a same lateral
side of the apparatus.

[0059] More specifically, the first loading section 41 directly connected
to the first loading/unloading aperture 41d for removably receiving the
first IC card 100, the second loading section 42 directly connected to
the second loading/unloading aperture 42d for removably receiving the
second IC card 200 and the third loading section 43 directly connected to
the third loading/unloading aperture 43d for removably receiving the
third IC card 300 are arranged side by side between two oppositely
disposed short sides of the loading apparatus 40. The first loading
section 41 is provided with a first bulged section 41a showing a plan
view similar to that of the first IC card 100 and the second loading
section 42 is provided with a second bulged section 42a showing a plan
view similar to that of the second IC card 200, while the third loading
section 43 is provided with a third bulged section 43a showing a plan
view similar to that of the third IC card 300. A first access indicator
section 41b is arranged near the first bulged section 41a so as to be
turned on when the host apparatus accesses the first IC card 100 loaded
in the first loading section 41 and a second access indicator section 42b
is arranged near the second bulged section 42a so as to be turned on when
the host apparatus accesses the second IC card 200 loaded in the second
loading section 42, while a third access indicator section 43b is
arranged near the third bulged section 43a so as to be turned on when the
host apparatus accesses the third IC card 300 loaded in the third loading
section 43.

[0060] Additionally, the first bulged section 41a is provided with a first
display section 41c for displaying the type (shape) of the first IC card
100 to be loaded and the second bulged section 42a is provided with a
second display section 42c for displaying the type (shape) of the second
IC card 200 to be loaded, while the third bulged section 43a is provided
with a third display section 43c for displaying the type (shape) of the
third IC card 300. The first through third display section 41c, 42c, 43c
are arranged side by side along a line running in parallel with the long
sides of the loading apparatus 40 to make them appear to be aesthetically
appealing.

[0061] While the first through third loading sections 41, 42, 43 are
arranged on a same surface of the loading apparatus 40 having the above
described configuration, the user can easily identify any of the first
through third loading sections 41; 42, 43 and hence any of the first
through third IC cards 100, 200, 300 is prevented from being inserted
into a wrong loading section because the loading sections 41, 42, 43 are
provided respectively with the first through third bulged sections 41a,
42a, 43a, which are by turn provided respectively with the first through
third display sections 41c, 42c, 43c.

[0062] Now, still another embodiment of loading apparatus according to the
invention will be described by referring to FIG. 10. In the loading
apparatus 50 illustrated in FIG. 10, a first loading section 51 for
receiving the first IC card 100 and a second loading section 52 for
receiving the second IC card 200 are arranged in series at the side of
the top surface of the apparatus. This loading apparatus 50 is provided
with two loading sections for receiving two IC cards of different types
(shapes) and no third loading section for receiving the third IC card 300
is provided.

[0063] The first loading section 51 is provided with a first bulged
section 51a showing a plan view similar to that of the first IC card 100
and the second loading section 52 is provided with a second bulged
section 52a showing a plan view similar to that of the second IC card
200. In this loading apparatus 50, a first loading/unloading aperture 51b
is arranged at one of the oppositely disposed short sides of the
apparatus and directly connected to the first loading section 51, while a
second loading/unloading aperture 52b is arranged at the other short side
of the apparatus and directly connected to the second loading section 52.

[0064] While the first and second loading sections 51, 52 are arranged on
a same surface of the loading apparatus 50 having the above described
configuration, the user can easily identify either of the first and
second loading sections 51, 52 and hence either of the first and second
third IC cards 100, 200 is prevented from being inserted into a wrong
loading section because the loading sections 51, 52 are provided
respectively with the first and second bulged sections 51a, 52a.

[0065] While the loading apparatus 50 is equipped with a first loading
section 51 for receiving the first IC card 100 and a second loading
section 52 for receiving the second IC card 200 in the above description,
it may alternatively be equipped with a loading section for receiving the
first IC card 100 and another loading section for receiving the third IC
card 300 or a loading section for receiving the second IC card 200 and
another loading section for receiving the third IC card 300. The first
and second bulged sections 51a, 52b may be provided with respective
display sections for indicating the types (shapes) of the IC cards 100,
200 to be loaded and respective access indicator sections.

[0066] Now, still another embodiment of loading apparatus according to the
invention will be described by referring to FIG. 11. In the loading
apparatus 60 illustrated in FIG. 11, a first loading section 61 for
receiving the first IC card 100 is arranged at the side of one of the
oppositely disposed main surfaces and a second loading section 62 for
receiving the second IC card 200 is arranged at the side of the other
main surface. The first loading/unloading aperture 61a of the first
loading section 61 and the second loading/unloading aperture 62a of the
second loading section 62 are arranged at one of the short sides of the
loading apparatus 60 so that the first and second IC cards 100, 200 can
be removably inserted into the loading apparatus 60 from this side. The
first loading section 61 is provided with a first bulged section 61b
showing a plan view similar to that of the first IC card 100 and the
second loading section 62 is provided with a second bulged section 62b
showing a plan view similar to that of the second IC card 200.

[0067] While the first and second loading sections 61, 62 are arranged
respectively on the oppositely disposed main surfaces of the loading
apparatus 60 having the above described configuration, the user can
easily identify either of the first and second loading sections 61, 62
and hence either of the first and second third IC cards 100, 200 is
prevented from being inserted into a wrong loading section because the
loading sections 61, 62 are provided respectively with the first and
second bulged sections 61b, 62b.

[0068] While the loading apparatus 60 is equipped with a first loading
section 61 for receiving the first IC card 100 and a second loading
section 62 for receiving the second IC card 200 in the above description,
it may alternatively be equipped with a loading section for receiving the
first IC card 100 and another loading section for receiving the third IC
card 300 or a loading section for receiving the second IC card 200 and
another loading section for receiving the third IC card 300. The first
and second bulged sections 61b, 62b may be provided with respective
display sections for indicating the types (shapes) of the IC cards 100,
200 to be loaded and respective access indicator sections.

[0069] While the loading sections of each of the above described loading
apparatus 1, 30, 40, 50, 60 are provided with respective bulged sections
that correspond to the IC cards 100, 200, 300 they receive so that the
user may discriminate the loading sections by touching them to prevent
any IC card from being inserted into a wrong loading section, it is not
necessary that each of the bulged sections shows a plan view that
corresponds to that of the related IC card so long as the user can
discriminate the loading sections by touching them.

[0070] The types (shapes) of the IC cards to be loaded in any of the above
described loading apparatus 1, 30, 40, 50, 60 are not limited to those of
the IC cards 100, 200, 300. Nor the number of loading sections that a
loading apparatus according to the present invention comprises is limited
to the above described ones. In other words, a loading apparatus
according to the invention may comprise four or more than four loading
sections that are provided with respective bulged sections.